Posted: Sun, Nov 5, 2017, 10:16 AM ET (1516 GMT)
NASA Administrator nominee Jim Bridenstine faced sharp criticism from Democratic senators at his confirmation hearing Wednesday. The committee's ranking member, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), and other Democrats questioned Bridenstine about his views on climate change, social issues, and competence to lead NASA during the hearing, which lasted more than two and a half hours. Bridenstine got a friendlier reception from the committee's Republican majority, but very few of the questions he received during the hearing directly related to NASA programs outside of Earth science. The committee is planning a markup session next Wednesday to vote to advance the nomination, and committee chairman Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says he believes that Bridenstine will ultimately be confirmed.